Image: UGA Geography Distinguished Research Professor, Nik Heyen, hasbeen awarded the 2025 American Association of GeographersJames Blaut award. The award was conferred at this year’s AAGannual meeting in Detroit, where Dr. Heynen delivered a lecturetitled “Echoes of Bombingham: The Longue Durée of Racial Terror,the White Mob, and Abolition Geography." The AAG has shared the following description of Dr. Heynen’s research and scholarship: “Dr. Nik Heynen’s work has transformed abolition ecology, urban political ecology, andsocialist geography. His scholarship redefines how geography addresses racialcapitalism, environmental injustice, and urban inequality, linking radical theory withgrassroots action. Through community-engaged research, including partnerships with theGullah/Geechee community, Heynen demonstrates how geography can challenge systemsof oppression, resist land dispossession, and advance collective liberation.Heynen’s research critiques the structural violence of capitalist urbanization whileamplifying the resistance of marginalized communities. His work bridges academic andgrassroots spaces, offering actionable insights into combating inequality. This sessioncelebrates his vision of geography as a tool for dismantling oppression and buildingsolidarity through scholarship and action.” Congratulations, Nik!Learn more about Dr. Heynen’s Research here!
